funniest quotes in The Other Guys. The NYPD captain is hilariously oblivious which, in part, allows Keaton to outshine his fellow co-stars.

The Other Guys is a high-action addition to the buddy cop genre. Adam McKay prioritizes comedy over any high-stakes police work, and it's not hard to argue that this works in the film's favor. The dialogue is the greatest strength of the film, which is also an underrated $179 million Dwayne Johnson movie. ing Keaton in the ensemble are Steve Coogan, Brett Gelman, and Damon Wayans Jr. However, Keaton retains most of the screen time among the ing cast in The Other Guys, which allows him to really hone in on his comedic flair.

Michael Keaton's Captain Gene In The Other Guys Is One Of His Best Comedy Performances

Michael Keaton Can Wring Humor Out Of Any Situation

Keaton's performance in The Other Guys is far more subdued than his other notable roles. In large measure, this is what sets Captain Gene apart from Keaton's other titular characters. The NYPD captain is not overtly humorous but has a quick wit that's brought to life by Keaton's outstanding comedic timing, which allows him to deliver fantastic one-liners that never lose their charm. To say nothing of Captain Gene having one of the funniest running gags throughout The Other Guys in which Keaton references TLC songs, but claims to be completely unaware of the band existing.

Keaton commands every scene he's involved in The Other Guys. That's not to say that the other stars fall short, but rather that Keaton's background in the stand-up comedy scene is really beneficial to his performance as Captain Gene. A silent fight breaks out among officers at Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and P.K.'s (Samuel L. Jackson) funeral, which demonstrates Keaton's talents particularly well. He doesn't raise his voice above a whisper for the whole scene, and he expertly plays off Ferrell's performance, which permits him to take the spotlight for much of the movie.

Keaton's Captain Gene Is The Other Guys' Standout Character

Captain Gene Is Entirely Unpredictable, Which Makes Him Even Funnier

Of course, Keaton is inserted as a B-line character to occasionally direct attention away from The Other Guys' leads. Captain Gene acts as a respite from the more amplified humor of Ferrell and Wahlberg, which only serves to make his own antics that much funnier. Despite his limited screen time, Keaton creates a character that has so much depth. The irony behind Captain Gene's character is his pure absurdity, which means that he often doesn't perform in the way that would be expected of an NYPD officer. His unpredictability is largely what distinguishes Keaton from the rest of the cast.

It's clear that this characterization is down to Keaton's familiarity with improvisation, to the point where it's difficult to imagine anyone else in the role.

One narrative is that Captain Gene works a second job at Bed Bath & Beyond to his son's route into college. The Other Guys is committed to this premise, and Keaton can be found briefing his retail colleagues as if they were officers. It's clear that this characterization is down to Keaton's familiarity with improvisation, to the point where it's difficult to imagine anyone else in the role. Having a smaller part allows Michael Keaton the freedom to concentrate on the comedy alone, meaning he can take advantage of any scene, and bounce off the misfortune of his co-stars.